As much as we love cooking from recipes, from time to time we also like to wing it in the kitchen, inspired by peak season produce and essential pantry staples. To stir your creativity in the kitchen, we put together a freestyle cooking guide, plus a photo contest to show off your tasty creations.

Give a gift that lasts a lifetime! Check out Foundations of Plant-Based Nutrition, a comprehensive online cooking course — click here for information and a big discount. Meanwhile, see cooking instructor Kayleen St. John demonstrate this root-to-frond cooking tip.

Got a Dutch oven as a holiday gift? Sweet! Heavy-bottomed and ovenproof with a tight-fitting lid, this thick metal pot heats evenly and holds heat well, so veggies sear and sizzle, soups simmer slowly, frying oil stays hot, and puddings don't stick. Here are a few handy things to know before you get cooking.